Back to the drawing BorgBjorn Borg is making adjustments...

Off the beat

May 08, 1991

Back to the drawing Borg

Bjorn Borg is making adjustments in his comeback bid.

He is not playing in the Italian Open. Tournament officials said yesterday that the Swedish player never asked for a wild-card berth. He has dropped coach Tia Honsai and will work with Adriano Panatta, a former Italian tennis star. And sources close to Borg say he agrees he made a mistake trying to make his comeback with an outmoded wooden racket rather than the graphite type that became popular during his eight-year retirement.

Borg lost to Jordi Arrese of Spain in his first comeback match, two weeks ago at the Monte Carlo Open.

Pirates put sting on bee

A woman who dresses like a bee to support the Pittsburgh Pirates' Killer B's must shed her costume because she looks too much like a professional mascot in the eyes of team officials.

The Pirates asked McConaughy, 31, to take off the bee costume during last Saturday's game against the Houston Astros at Three Rivers Stadium. Pirates spokesman Rick Cerrone said the team has an informal policy against allowing fans to wear what appear to be professional costumes.

Cerrone said that people dressed like chickens and turtles recently had been asked to remove their costumes.

"We do it for the safety of our fans, including the person in costume," he said.

Owner for a song--and $15 million

Paul Anka is close to agreement on a deal that will make him a part owner of the National Hockey League's newest team, the Ottawa Senators, for $15 million, the singer's financial adviser says.

"There's a major concession that's been made, and maybe it's close to where we can live with it," Donald Abraham said.